In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent trailers as temporary shelters to the thousands of families who lost their homes amidst the devastation. However, trailers were in short supply, and those in use were cramped and filled with toxic fumes. Long-time Texas housing advocate, John Henneberger teamed up with bcWORKSHOP and local developers to revolutionize the way government delivers affordable homes. One of the first communities was built recently in Brownsville, Texas. The RAPIDO Homes not only promise to return families to affordable shelters quickly after a major natural disaster, they were also partially built in the span of an afternoon by a group of unskilled teenagers, and can be customized and expanded over time into permanent residences.
